News & Stories

Comcast Luminary Loppet Registration Closed – Event Sells Out for First Time Ever

Official event ends at 9 p.m. but candles will continue to light Lake of the Isles past that time

Minneapolis – January 29, 2014 – The Loppet Foundation announced today that for the first time since the Luminary Loppet started in 2005, the event has sold all of its 7,000 registrations for the increasingly popular event. The Luminary Loppet, sponsored by Comcast, takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 on Lake of the Isles and is one of the highlights of the City of Lakes Loppet Festival (Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2014).

“We are thrilled that so many people are excited about the upcoming Comcast Luminary Loppet – the volunteer organizers of the event work so hard to create a magical experience for the community,” said John Munger, executive director of the Loppet Foundation. “Capping the number of participants helps to ensure that people who register have a positive and high-quality experience.”

The Comcast Luminary Loppet is a major part of the Loppet Foundation’s fundraising efforts. The event, put on solely by the nonprofit organization and its volunteers, is designed to raise funds toward the Loppet Foundation’s long-standing youth programs.

Since 2002, the Loppet Foundation has taught more than 6,500 youth, including more than 4,000 from North Minneapolis, to ski, bike, paddle and generally appreciate the outdoors. The organization’s youth programs include the Minne-Loppet, a 10-week program in North Minneapolis elementary schools that teaches students to ski and culminates in the Cook County Minne-Loppet during the City of Lakes Loppet Festival, and its year-round middle school programs. In its middle school programs, the Loppet Foundation provides equipment, coaching and mentoring to middle school youth who participate in year-round ski and bike teams at three Minneapolis middle schools: Anwatin, Nellie Stone Johnson and Northeast.

“The greatest reward for all of the hard work it takes to put on the Luminary Loppet is seeing thousands of people enjoying an event that gets them outside, active and embracing winter in Minnesota,” said David Bryan, the lead volunteer for the Comcast Luminary Loppet. “I also love that the event is helping to introduce even more kids to outdoor activities through its support of Loppet programs.”

While the Comcast Luminary Loppet is sold out there is still an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the magical evening and Loppet Weekend more broadly. The official Comcast Luminary Loppet runs through 9 p.m. After 9 p.m. the Loppet Foundation will stop serving cocoa and cookies and the fire dancers will end their performance. But the candles do not go out until later in the evening and all are welcome at that point. The Snowshoe Loppet and the REI Tour Classic and Skate still have room and people can still register onsite this weekend.  See More Information about Registration and Packet Pickup here.

The organization asks individuals who enjoy the candle-lit ice “luminaries” and ice structures after 9 p.m. to consider making a donation to support the Loppet Foundation’s youth programs and its work in the community.